American Pharoah remains the favorite for the 2015 Kentucky Derby, but that doesn’t mean the experts are rushing to pick the undefeated Arkansas Derby winner. He’s a strong horse, but just that: one of 20 horses that could cross the finish line first.
Kentucky Derby 2015 picks: Carpe Diem a popular pick among experts
American Pharoah is favored, but many experts are looking to the 9-1 choice for a Derby alternative.
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Jennie Rees of the Louisville Courier-Journal has American Pharoah to finish fourth, with Dortmund winning the Run for the Roses. Rees also has Carpe Diem, the Blue Grass Stakes winner, in second place because of her read on trainer Todd Pletcher:
I will say that trainer Todd Pletcher seems extremely relaxed, reminiscent of 2010 when he won with Super Saver. He loves what he’s seeing with his horses, and he’s a guy who does have “tells.”
Gary West of ESPN.com picked American Pharoah to win, followed by Dortmund, Frosted and Carpe Diem. West praised the strength of the field, noting that jockeys Gary Stevens (Firing Line), Kent Desormeaux (Keen Ice) and Calvin Borel (El Kabeir) have each won three Kentucky Derbies, not to mention Victor Espinoza, who won his second Derby last year on California Chrome and could win his third this year with American Pharoah.
West looked back nearly 60 years to consider the depth of this year’s field, but despite the strength of the field, he went with the favorite.
In May of 1957, who knew that was arguably the greatest Derby field ever, with three future Hall of Famers, not to mention the horse that beat three future Hall of Famers, Iron Liege? For now, though, I’ll say this year’s is the strongest Derby field since 2007, and in a couple months — well, I’m open to the possibility that it could be even better.
Scott Hazelton of TVG and HRTV looks to Carpe Diem for the best shot at toppling American Pharoah, saying the Todd Pletcher-trainer horse has already proven one key thing American Pharoah and Dortmund have not.
(American Pharoah and Dortmund) are both very capable of winning this race, but Carpe Diem is a horse that has very few questions in being able to get the distance. He’s got the right trainer. ... I had a chance to see him run in person in Lexington at the Blue Grass Stakes, and he really did make a big impression on me. I really think he’s the horse to beat.
In looking at possible longshot picks, Hazelton glanced toward International Star, the 20-1 choice starting from the No. 12 post.
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